INCOME TAXES

The following table reflects the provision for income taxes and the effective tax rate for the six months ended April 2, 2016 and March 28, 2015:



	Six months ended
(dollar amounts in thousands)	April 2, 2016			March 28, 2015
Income from operations before income taxes	$	10,778		$	19,613
Income tax expense	5,780			3,840
Net income	$	4,998		$	15,773

Effective tax rate	53.6		%	19.6		%

For the six months ended April 2, 2016, the effective income tax rate differed from the federal statutory tax rate primarily due to a tax liability arising from a settlement with a foreign tax authority, an increase for deferred taxes on unremitted earnings, foreign withholding taxes, and an increase in valuation allowance against certain foreign deferred tax assets, partially offset by tax benefits from profits in foreign operations subject to a lower statutory tax rate than the U.S. statutory tax rate, tax benefits from domestic research expenditures, and the impact of tax holidays.

For the six months ended March 28, 2015, the effective income tax rate differed from the federal statutory tax rate primarily due to profits from foreign operations subject to a lower statutory tax rate than the U.S. statutory tax rate, and the impact of tax holidays, offset by an increase for deferred taxes on unremitted earnings, an increase in valuation allowance against foreign deferred taxes, other U.S. deferred taxes and foreign withholding taxes.

The effective tax rate for the three months ended April 2, 2016 of 58.1% increased from the effective tax rate for the three months ended March 28, 2015 of 20.1% primarily due to a one time tax liability of $4.4 million being recorded as a result of a settlement reached with a foreign tax authority. The effective tax rate for the six months ended April 2, 2016 of 53.6% increased from the effective tax rate for the six months ended March 28, 2015 of 19.6% and the year ended October 3, 2015 of (34.3)% primarily due to a one time tax liability of $4.4 million being recorded as a result of a settlement reached with a foreign tax authority and a decrease in foreign earnings subject to a lower statutory tax rate, partially offset by tax benefits from domestic research expenditures.

The Company's future effective tax rate would be affected if earnings were lower than anticipated in countries where it has lower statutory rates and higher than anticipated in countries where it has higher statutory rates, by changes in the valuation of its deferred tax assets and liabilities, or by changes in tax laws, regulations, accounting principles, or interpretations thereof. In addition, changes in assertion for foreign earnings permanently or non-permanently reinvested as a result of changes in facts and circumstances could significantly impact the effective tax rate. The Company regularly assesses the effects resulting from these factors to determine the adequacy of its provision for income taxes.

It is reasonably possible that the amount of the unrecognized tax benefit with respect to certain unrecognized tax positions will increase or decrease during the next 12 months due to the expected lapse of statutes of limitation and / or settlements of tax examinations. The Company is currently under income tax examination by tax authorities in certain foreign jurisdictions.